Utilization of Concentrate Supplements Containing Varying Levels of Sunflower Seed Meal by Growing Goats Fed a Basal Diet of Corn Silages

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying levels of sunflower seed meal on feed intake, digestibility and rumen fermentation of goats fed corn silage as roughages. Eight growing crossed Thai native x Anglo-Nubian goats between 8-10 months of age and pre-trial average body weight of 14.2±1.7 kg were allotted into two groups on the basis of body weight in a randomized double 4 x 4 Latin square design to investigate the utilization of concentrate mixtures of varying levels of Sunflower Seed Meal (SSM). The four concentrate mixtures had SSM included at 0% (control), 7.3 % (SSM1), 14.5% (SSM2) and 22.0% (SSM3) in concentrate as replacing Soybean Meal (SBM) with SSM as 25% CP, 50% CP and 75% CP, respectively. On average, all parameters measured, including Dry Matter Intake (DMI), nutrients digestibility, ruminal ammonia-N (NH3-N), ruminal total Volatile Fatty Acid (total VFA), individual VFAs concentration (mM/L), microbial N supply and N retention increased (p<0.05) with the addition of SSM in concentrate up to 14.5% (SSM2) in concentrate, thereafter decreased (p<0.05) in goats fed SSM 22% (SSM3). The results indicated that replacing SBM with SSM as 50 %CP (SSM2), resulted in higher animal performance as a consequence of improved ruminal fermentation, microbial yield and N balance, but decreased (p<0.05) with 22.0% SSM diet. It is concluded that sunflower seed meal can successfully replace soybean meal 50% CP as a protein source in growing goats.